Method and machine for metalworking



July 28, 1936. M. L..STRAWN ET AL METHOD AND MACHINE FOR METALWORKING Filed Nov. 25, 1935 8 Sheets-Sheet l NVENTOQ/ %arfon L S/rawn "Y ave zowls 217/021) QTTQ N EjS Jul 28,1936,

M. STRAWN ET AL METHOD AND MACHINE FOR METALWORKING Filed Nov. 25, 1955 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 07% m 0 w 0 7 Ta 0 EM? v v de w L M T M fl w WW A a wm July 28, 1936. 'M. L. STRAWN ET AL METHOD AND MACHINE FOR METALWORKING 8 Sheets-Sheet 3- Filed Nov. 25. 1935 O T N E V N v Q7/0192? L. Show)? Benz Lou/Is M. L. STRAWN ET AL 9,400

METHOD AND MACHINE FOR METALWORKING July 28, 1936.

Filed Nov. 25,,1955 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 NVENTOQ,

War/0n A. S/rawn Pena Laws QUZIXGWO/jf' 11 A4, M, 1%... v

fiTTO I Lays M. L. STRAWN ET AL 2,049,400

METHOD AND momma FOR METALWORKING Filed Nov. 25, 1935 July 28, 1936.

8 Sheets-Sheet 5 57 illlll Ulllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll NVEINTOQ/ War/0&4. Sfrawn Pena Lou/ls ou m f fab. F TTor Naya July 28, 1936. M. L. STRAWN ET AL METHOD AND MACHINE FOR METALWORK ING Filed Nov. 25, 1935 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 NVENTOL War/'0)? A. 4902mm DUN-m July 28, 1936.

M. L. S RAWN ET AL METHOD AND MACHINE FOR METALWORKING Filed Nov. 25, 1935 8 Sheets-Sheet 7' July 28, 1936. M. L. STRAWN ET AL METHOD AND MACHINE FOR METALWORKING Filed Nov. 25, 1935 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 w 5 W mwe $2 v N69 6 5 2 m/ww, e L

Pa ms July 28, 1936 NITED STATES METHOD PATENT OFFICE MACHINE FOB. METAL- WORKING Marion L. Strawn and Rene Louis ,Rougemont,

Rockford, 111., assignors to The Inger-soil Milk ing Machine Company, Rockford, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application November 25, 1935, Serial No. 51,406

43 Claims.

, of copper or the like for the performance of drawing operations thereon. The invention also resides in the novel character of'certainof the mechanisms used in car- I the cross-sectional 'form indicated in Fig. 4 of the present drawings, a being the bottom, b the sides, and c the upper surface of the billet. As shown in Fig. 5, the opposite ends of the billet have tapered surfaces cl. The upper surface c contains considerable slag and is hard and scaly, and it should be removed before the billet is drawn into wire. It is important, also, that the billet contains no sharp corners, as such corners tend to produce folds or seams in the drawing operation and ultimately cause breaks in the wire. While the billet is cooling and shrinking, it usually becomes warped in one or more directions. 1

The general object of the machine illustrated in the present drawings is to prepare a wire bar or billet for wire drawing. In' the case of. copper billets, such preparation includes the straightening of the billet, theremoval of the upper surface c, and the rounding of the square side edges produced in the removal ofthe upper surface. The machine is largely automatic. Straightening and clamping of the billet are effected at a loading station under manual control, after which the operator closes an electric circuit which causes the machine to go through a fixed cycle of operations, during which the upper surface and the two square corners above referred to are milled off, whereupon the machine stops. The

billet is then released and discharged from the carriage on which it was mounted. The operator then closes the before-mentioned switch and thereby causes the carriage to return to the loading station where another billet has in the meantime been placed in position to be clamped in the carriage.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a machine embodying the features of our invention. In this view the carriage, by means of which the billet is carried past the cutters, is shown at the unloading station.

Fig. 2 is a fragmental side elevation of the machine, showing the carriage at the loading station.

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic'view of the hydraulically actuated mechanisms.

Fig. 4 is a view which illustrates, more or less diagrammatically, the clamping and milling of the billet. Fig. 5 is a side elevation showing in dotted lines the original form that a billet may have, and showing the horizontal and vertical straightening rams in operation upon the billet to impart to it the straightened form indicated in full lines.

Fig. 6 is a fragmental vertical sectional view taken in the plane of line 6-6 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 'l is a horizontal sectional view taken approximately in the plane of line 1-1 of Fig. 6 with certain parts broken away. 0

Fig. 8 illustrates diagrammatically the relative movement between the billet and the edgerounding cutters.

Fig. 9 is a horizontal sectional view in the plane .of line 99'of Fig. 2.

Fig. 10 is a vertical section on line III-l0 of Fig: 9- r I Fig. 11' is a horizontal section on line l| ll of Fig. 10.

Fig. 12 is a diagramof the entire machine to show the cycle of operations and the electrical circuits. v

Figs. 13 to 20 show successive positions of certain carriage-dcg-actuated switches.

Fig. 21 is an elevation looking from the lefthand end of Fig. 2 and showing the carriage ap-' preaching the unloading station.

Fig. 22 is a fragmental elevation looking from the opposite side of Fig. 21.

Fig. 23 is a fragmental elevation looking from the right-hand side of Fig.22. f The embodiment herein shown of the invention comprises an elongated bed I. At the righthand end of the machine, as viewed in Fig. 1, is a loading station, at the opposite end is an unloading station, and between these two stations is ar-' ranged a set of milling cutters. The billet is carried from the loading station to the unloading station upona carriage 2 having secured to its lower side two tubular guides 3 (Fig. 6) which slide in concave ways 4 formed in the bed. The carriage is traversed by means of a screw 5 extending lengthwise of and rotatably mounted in the bed, and engaging a partial nut 6 on the carriage.

Referring now to the means for straightening and clamping the billet and for locating it-so that a cut of predetermined thickness shall be removed from it:

At the loading station there is an upstanding frame portion 1 (Figs. 6 and 7) 'on which is a horizontal surface 8 upon which rests an adjustable abutment in the form of an elongated casting 2. This abutment carries three blocks Ill against which the slag side 0 of the billet is to be pressed in the straightening operation. The blocks also constitute a positioning gage which operates during straightening to so locate the billet in its supporting fixture preparatory to clamping that a predetermined thickness of metal will be cut from the slag side in the metal-removing operation. The abutment 9 carries two arms ll pivoted on the axes l2 and normally held perpendicular to the abutment by means of contractile springs l3. Stop lugs 14 on the abutment '2 limit the action of the springs. The arms H serve to support the billet until the arrival of the carriage 2 at the loading station. At one end of the abutment 9 is an adjustable stop id (Figs. 1 and 7) for one end of the billet.

The abutment 9 is arranged for horizontal adjustment to position the blocks ID in such relation to the cutters as to determine the depth of the cut. The means herein shown for thus adjusting the abutment or positioning gage 9 comprises two screws l5 (Fig. 7) rotatably connected to the abutment 9 at one end and held against endwise movement with reference to the abutment. The screws l5 extend through nuts l6 fixed in the frame portion 1. The screws l5 are connected for rotation in unison by means of worm wheels I! splined to the screws and held on the frame portion 1 against endwise movement with relation to the frame. The worm wheels I! mesh with worms It! on the shaft l 9 carried by the frame portion 1. To one end of the shaft I9 is attached a hand wheel 20. On one of the screws I5 is an adjustable stop collar in the form of a split nut 2| threaded .onto the screw and arranged to be locked thereon by turning a handle 2 lg. As the hand wheel 20 is turned to advance the abutment 9, the collar 2| engages the portion 22 of the frame member I to locate the abutment 9 in its predetermined forward position.

23 is a pointer secured to the abutment 9 and coacting with a series of graduations 24 on the frame portion 1 to indicate the amount of stock to be removed. p

The present embodiment of the invention has been arranged so that if desired it could be readily rearranged to operate upon two billets at a time,-one billet at each side of the carriage. With this in view there is located opposite the loading station a frame member 25 (Fig. 6) which is substantially similar to the frame member I and which is arranged to coact with elements on the carriage. If the machine were tobe arranged to operate upon two billets at a time, there would be a loading station on the frame portion 25 similar to that on the frame portion 1, and each abutment 9 would take the thrust of the straightening devices at the opposite side, but in the present instance the frame portion 25 is not equipped with an abutment like the abutment 9, said frame portion being merely provided with a simple abutment to take the thrust of the devices that straighten the'billet at the loading station illustrated.

On the. carriage 2 is mounted apparatus which would be in duplicate if the machine were in- The straightening and clamping devices are.

hydraulically actuated. Upon the carriage 2 is mounted a structure 26 (Fig. 6) in the lower portion of which are formed three horizontal cylinders 27. In each cylinder 21 are two pistons 28 and 29. To the piston28 is fixed a ram or piston rod 3ll adapted to bear againstthe surface a of the billet and press the surface 0 against the blocks Ill, thereby removing any bend in said surface. As shown in Fig. 7, there is a block it! opposite each of the rams 3U. Expansive springs 3| (Fig. 6) normally retract the rams 30 until stop collars 32 on the rams stop against the ends of the cylinders.

To the piston 29 are fixed piston rods 33 (Figs. 1 and 6) which are arranged to bear against an abutment bar 36 that is adjustably secured to the frame portion 25'. Springs 35 (Fig. 6) normally retract the piston rods 33 until stop collars 36 on the piston rods stop against the ends 31 of the cylinders 2?.

38 (Fig. 6) is a reservoir in the structure 23,

and 38 is a pump, said reservoir and pump being placed in communication with the cylinders 27 in any.preferred manner, as, for example, that diagrammatically indicated in Fig. 3 and hereinafter referred to. The pump 38*- is continuously driven by an electric motor 38 mounted on the structure 26.

The carriage 2 is provided with three blocks 39 (Figs. 5 and 6) on which the billet lies while it is being straightened and against which it is clamped and held during the milling operation. In the structure 26 are formed three cylinders 40 in .which are pistons 4! to which are connected piston rods 42 that are arranged to bear against a surface I) of the billet. As shown in Fig. 5, there is a supporting block 39 directly below the points against which the piston rods 42 exert pressure to straighten and clamp the billet. The lower ends of the piston rods 42 and the upper surfaces of the blocks 39 are preferably serrated, as shown in Fig. 4, to afford an effective grip upon the billet. Springs 43 normally retract the piston 60 65 As the carriage arrives at the loading station the corner 43 (Flg. 22) on the forward end of the carriage engages the projecting ends of the arms II and swings said arms into the position shown in Fig. '7. The surface 43 (Figs. 6, 21 and 7 22) on the carriage holds the arms II- in such position. The travel of the carriage also places the blocks 39 under the billet, said'blocks passing under the tapered ends of the billet, raising the billet, if necessary, and said .blocks serving to 75 support the billet after the arms I l have been pushed into the position shown in Fig. 7. The rams 30 are then actuated to press the billet against the blocks l9, after which the piston rods 42 are actuated to press the billet against the blocks 39 and clamp the billet.

The milling mechanism is supported upon a column 44 (Figs. 1- and'2) which forms a part of the machine frame. There are three cutters, all mounted for rotation upon horizontal axes, the face milling cutter 45 serving to mill the surface 0 of the billet and the shaped cutters 49 acting to bevel the square corners produced by the operation of the cutter 45. It will be undercutters 45 .and 46 comprises an elongated form 41 that meshes with a worm wheel 48 (Fig. 12) to which the cutter 45 is rigidly connected, and worm wheels 49 to which the cutters 46 are rigidly connected. The worm 4'Iis driven by-means of a belt 59 and a motor 5!.

The spindles upon which the cutters- 46 and. the worm wheels 49 are fixed are rotatably supported in slides 52 (Fig. 12). One of said slides is shown in dotted lines in Fig. 9; They are mounted in the column 44 for vertical movement toward and away from each other so as to posi tion the cutters 46 properly with relation to the varying widths of the billet. For this purpose the slides 52 are provided with fixed nuts which engage oppositely threaded screws 53 which are rigid with a shaft 54. In the construction herein shown, the shaft 54 is driven from a shaft that drives the feed screw 5, which shaft rotates continuously during the travel of the carriage.

' In order that the cutter slides 52 shall be moved to and held in a certain fixed position during the milling of the main body of the billet,

we provide a drive capable of, slipping and means for positively limiting the rotation of the shaft 54 in either direction. 7

Referring now to Figs. wand 11: Rigidly fixed to the shaft-54 is a disk 55 to the periphery of which are adjustably secured two stop blocks 56. On the machine frame is fixed a stop 57 adapted to be engaged by one of the blocks 56 when the shaft 54 has completed its movement in one direction and arranged to be engaged by the other block 56 upon the completion of the movement of the shaft 54 in the opposite direction. A worm wheel 59 is rotatably mounted upon the shaft 54 and is arranged to drive said shaft through a friction clutch 59 comprising a plurality of disks, alternate disks being splined to the shaft and the worm wheel, and the set of disks being yieldingly pressed together bymeans of springs 69. The wormwheel 58 meshes with a wom 6i (Fig. 9) on a shaft 62, said shaft being driven from a shaft 63 through reversing gears 5%. These gears are arranged to be alternately clutched to the shaft 52 by a slidable clutch member 64. The member 54 is normally held in-neutral position by springs 64 and 94. The shaft 93 is driven through a change gear train 95, from a shaft 59. The shaft 65 is geared to a shaft 91 which, as before stated, is the shaft through which the screw 5 is driven.

The speed of the carriage 2-is arranged to vary as indicated in the diagram, Fig. 12. The means whereby the shaft 51 is driven to produce such variations in carriage feed may be of any desired construction, but preferably is of the general character illustrated in the Oberhofiken Patout No. 1,902,179, dated March 21, 1933, and the Oberhofi'ken application Serial No. 723,136, filed April 30, 1934.

Referring to Fig. 12: The shaft 6! is rigid with a spider or planetary carrier 68 that carries a plurality of planetary gears 69, only one of which is shown in the diagram. The planetary'gears mesh with a sun gear 79 fixed to the shaft H of the rapid traverse motor 12. The planet gears also mesh with a ring gear l3 which is driven by a worm 14, a change gear train 15 and a feed motor 16. When the rapid traverse is not to operate, the shaft II is held against rotation by means'of a brake Ill.

The feed motor operates continuously during the travel of the carriage. and by reason of the gear reduction shown the shaft 61 is driven at a relatively low speed, thus moving the carriage at the proper rate during the milling operation.

The rapid traverse motor 12 is operated in conjunction with the feed motor 16 to drive the' The circuit of the feed motor 19 is closed through the medium of a push button switch 19 (Fig. 12) to inaugurate movement of the carriage from the loading station to the unloading station and to close the circuit of the cutter driving motor 5|. During such travel dogs on the carriage 2 operate a pawl-and-ratchet mechanism to produce intermittent rotation of a set of cams which operate switches to produce the desired changes in carriage speed and the movement of the cutters 46 toward and away from each other. These cams are shown in Fig. 12 and their positions of rest are illustrated in Figs. 13 to 20.

Upon arrival of the carriage at the unloading station, a dog on the carriage operates the set of cams to stop the motors. To return the carriage to the loading station, the operator again operates the push button I8, which this time closes the circuit of the rapid traverse motor I2 and thus causes the carriage to'be rapidly returned to the loading station.

The diagram, Fig.12, illustrates the circuits as arranged when the carriage is at .rest at the loading station. The dog-actuated switches occupy the positions shown in Figs. 12 and 13. C10- sure of the switch It establishes a circuit as follows: Line L conductor 9i, relay coil 92, conductor 99, switch 19, conductor 84 and line I The energization of the relay coil 82 closes the mally closed switch 94 and conductor 94 to line L". The relay 9! controls the supply of current to the feed motor 16.

The closing-oi the relay coils 9t and 99 causes current to be supplied to the feed motor 16 and the rapid traverse motor 12, whereupon the carriage 2 is advanced rapidly until the billet is close to the cutter is.

The closing of the push button switch 19 also closed a circuit as follows: Line L conductors 9i and 99, switch 95, conductors 85 and "ii, solenoid I92, conductor I93. switch I94, conductors I95, I06 and 9!. switch 92, conductor 93, switch 94, and conductor 84 to line L. The solenoid Hi2 thereupon shifts the reversing gear clutch 69*. to initiate movement of the cutters 68 toward each other, as indicated by the dot and dash lines l9! in the upper left-hand portion of Fig. 12.

As the cutters 48 reach the point of closest approach to each other, a dog "it on the carriage .2 actuates a pawl-and-ratchet mechanism m9 to turn the set of cams from the position shown in Figs. 12 and 13 to that represented in Flg...i4. The switch ms is thereby opened, thus deenergizing the solenoid m2 and permitting the spring st to shift the reversing gear clutch to neutral and stopping the approaching movement of the cutters as.

As the carriage 2 continues its rapid approach,

- a dog H9 on the carriage actuates the mechanism we to turn the set of cams to the position shown in Fig.15, thus opening a switch ill in the circuit of the rapid traverse motor 12. Theoarrlage continues to advance, but at the slower feed rate,

' to carry the billet past the cutters t5 and 96.

As the leading end of the billet reaches the cutters 99, a dog M9 on the carriage actuates the mechanism I99 to turn the set of cams to the position shown-in Fig. 16, thereby closing a switch 9 and thus establishing a circuit as fol-y lows: Line L conductors 9i and 99, switch 9!, conductors 95 and ii to solenoid coil ill, conductor H5, switch ||3,,conductors Hi8 and 9|,

switch 92. conductor 93, switch 95' and conductor 89 to line L. The clutch member 94 is thereby moved to cause the shaft 82 to be driven in the Y direction to move the cutters l9 apart. Since the corners-of the tapered leading end of the billet,

one of the stop blocks 56 (Fig. 11) strikes against the stop 51 and arrests the separating movementf'of the cutters 96. the continued rotation of the-worm wheel 59 (Fig. 10) serving to hold said stop block pressed against the fixed stop and thus holding the cutters 99 at a precise distance apart while the main body of the billet is fedpast them.

As thetapered rear end of. the billet approaches the cutters 46. a dog "9 on the carriage actuates the mechanism I99 to turn the set of cams into the position shown in Fig. 17, thereby. opening the switch Iii-and closing the switch I, and thus causing the cutters 49. to approach each other."

As the billet passes beyond the cutters 99, a

dog III on the carriage actuates themechanism M9 to turn the set of cams to the position represented in Fig. 18, thereby opening the switch Hi4 and closing the switch 3 and thus causing the cutters 49 to recede from each other. The switch I also is closed, thus restarting the rapid traverse motor I2 and causing the carriage to move rapidly toward the unloading station.

As the cutters 46 move apart, the other stop block 56 engages the fixed stop 51 and arrests the separating movement of the cutters when the latter are at a predetermined distance apart. A moment thereafter a dog 8 on the carriage actuates the mechanism |99to turn'the set of cams to the position illustrated in Fig. 19, thus opening the switch 9 and allowing the spring 64 to place the clutch member 69* in neutral.

As'the carriage reaches the unloading station, a dog M9 on the carriage actuates the mechanism m9 to turn the set of cams to the position seen in Fig. 20, thereby momentarily opening the switch NO to break the circuit of the coil 96 of the relay 91; and thus stopping all of the motors 5|, 7! audit. and bringing the carriage to rest at the unloading station. The switches 89 and iii in tor 12. also are opened. A switch I29 also is closed, preparatory to the rapid return movement of the carriage.

After the billet has been unloaded, the operator again closes the push button switch 78 to initiate thereturn cycle. This completes a circuit asfollowsyLine'iAronductor 9|, coil 82 of relay 95, conductor 89, switch I9 and conductor 94 to line L The closing of the relay switch 95 establishes a circuit as follows: Line L conductors 91 and 98.switch 95, coil 99 of relay 91, conductor 99, switch I 99', conductor 9|, switch 92, conductor 93, switch 99 and conductor 84 to line L. The closing of the relay 9'! completes the circuit of the rapid traverse motor-:12 and causes rapid return .of the carriage 2 to the loading station.

The dogs I99, H9. H2, H6, H1 and. 8 are pivotally mounted upon the carriage, stop pins i2| limiting pivotal movement in one direction and thus rendering the dogs eflective in the travel of the carriage'ito the unloading station and ineffective in the return movement.

. Uponthearrival of the carriage at the loading station, a fixed dog I22 on the carriage actuates the mechanism zlw to turn the set oi cams to the position shown in Figs. 12 and 13, thereby causing a momentary opening of the switch I99 to break the circuit of tile coil 98. and thus stopping the rapid traverse motor l2, whereupon the carriage 823 is a switch in the relay 91 arranged to close a-circuit in parallel with the circuit oi the switch 95, as follows: Line L conductor .98, switch 3, conductor I24, normally closed safety limit switches [25 and |2 6 and conductor H1. The cams 99, ilid and ill also are closed in readiness for the next milling cycle.

As before explained, upon closure of the push button'switch 19 the relaycoil 82 is energized to close the switch 95. This switch in turn completes acirouit to erirgize the coil 96 to close the relay 91. Upon closure of the .relay 91, the switch in in parallel with the switch 95 is closed, thereby maintaining the circuit through the coil 99 intact when'the operator releases the push 7 comes to rest attthe loading station. The switch I 529 also is opened.

button switch 19. when the operator takes his finger off the push button 18 the coil82 isdestop button switch .94 or the switch I is opened.

Each of these deenergizes the coil 96, thereby permitting theswitch I23 to open to break the holding circuit. The switch I23 remains closed as long as there is no interruption in any part of the circuit. Interruption of the circuit will immediately permit the switch I23 to open and to' remain open. although the interrupting switch be again immediately closed.

The push button switch 94 may be used to stop the machine at any time.

The normally closed safety limit switches I25 and I26 are arranged to be opened by the dogs H9 and I22, respectively, in the event that the switch I00 has failed to interrupt the circuit of the relay coil 95. If the dog I22 hasacted to stop the carriage at the loading station, the operator, when starting the machine, must hold the push button switch 18 closed until the dog I22 permits the limit switch I 26 to close. Similarly, when starting a return trip of the carriage, if the dog II9 has acted to open the limit switch I25, the push button switch 18 must be held closed until the dog II9 allows the switch the switch I26, and that if said cam mechanism should fail to open the switch I00 when the carriage reaches the loading station, the coil 96 will be deenergized through opening of the limit switch I25.

Referring now to the means for operating the horizontal rams 30 and the vertical rams 42: Any preferred arrangement of valves may be em-' ployed to connect the cylinders 21 and 40 to the reservoir 38 and the pump 38. Herein I have shown a valve I21 operated by a handle I28 for controlling the operation of the rams 30. A si lar valve I29 controls the rams 42. The valve I29 is operated manually to clamp the billet at the loading station by means of a handle I30. Said valve is automatically. operated to unclamp the billet before the carriage comes torest at the unloading station by means comprising a lever I3I (Fig. 22) mounted on the carriage, one arm of said lever being arranged to engage an arm I32 which is rigid with the handle I30. The other arm .of the lever I3I is arranged to be moved by aplunger- I33 mounted on the carriage for vertical movement. The upper end of the plunger I33 underlies an arm I34 which is fixed upon a shaft I35 on the carriage. The shaft I35 also carries an arm I35 located in position to engage a pin I31 on the column 44 as the carriage is approaching the unloading station. Engagement of the arm I33 with thepin I31 causes the valve I29 to be shifted to retract the clamping rams 42. .A spring I38 connected to the shaft I35 serves to hold the valve I29 in such position and alsoholds the arm I33 up into the position to which it has been moved by the pin I31. I

Means is provided to automatically discharge the billet from the carriage as the'carriage comes to rest at the unloading station. Said means comprisesa rock shaft I39 (Figs..3, 6 and 21) supported on the carriage 2 and having fixed thereon two arms I40 and a hand lever MI. The

shaft I39 is arranged to be rocked to swing the arms I40 against the billet to push the latter off the blocks 39 and onto a table I42 on the bed of the machine. The means for thus rocking the shaft I39 comprises a hydraulic cylinder I43 (Fig. 3) arranged to be controlled by a valve I44. 5 The valve I44 is arranged to be operated by two solenoids I45 and I45 (Figs. 12 and 21). These solenoids are connected into the line (herein shown as the wires L and L and the supply of current to said solenoids is controlled by means 10 of a switch I41. The dog H9 is arranged to shift said switch to close a circuit through the solenoid I45 to operate the valve I44 to cause discharge of the billet. When the carriage starts on its return to the loading station, the switch 15 I41 returns to its normal position wherein the solenoid I45 is energized to cause retraction of the ejecting arms I40 into the position shown in Figs. 3, 6 and 21.

Summarizing the operation of the machine and 20 assuming that a billet is lying upon the arms- II (Fig. '1) and that the carriage is returning to the loading station: As the carriage comes to the loading station it swings the arms II into the a position shown in Fig. 1, the blocks 39 (Fig. 6) 25 passing under the billet into position-to support thelatter. When the carriage has stopped, the operator operates the handle I28 (Fig. 3) to cause the rams 30 to force the billet against the blocks I0 under sufiicient pressure to distort or 30 flex the billet longitudinally and cause the slag surface thereof to conform to the contour defined by the surfaces of the abutments I0. Thus, the surface to be machined is straightened and thereby conditioned for scalping, being at the same time spaced accurately from the effective cutting plane of the cutter 45. Theoperator then operates the valve handle I30 to cause the rams 42 to force the billet against the blocks 39, thereby eflecting any straightening that may be required in that direction, and clamping the billet against said blocks 39 so as to retain the billet distorted and in straightened condition. The operator then operates the valve handle I28 to allow the springs 3I to withdraw the rams 30 thereby releasing the straightening pressure and freeing the billet for exposure of -its straightened face preparatory to machining thereof. Next, the hand wheel 20 is rotated to withdraw the abutment 9 from contact with the billet. The operator then closes the push. button switch 18 to initiate a cycle of operations during which the carriage isadvanced and the milling cutters actuated to remove the hard rough surface 0 of the billet and round the sharp corners thereby produced.

During the final rapid traverse of the carriage toward the unloading station, the arm I33 strikes the pin I31 and thus causes the valve I29 to be shifted to produce unclamping of the billet. As the carriage comes to rest at the unloading station, the dog II9 operates the switch I41 to deenergiz-e the solenoid I48 and energize the solenoid I45, thereby causing the arms I40 to push .the billet off the blocks 39 and onto the table I42. The operator then closes the push button switch 18 to inaugurate a return movement of the carriage to the loading station. As the carriage is leaving the unloading station, the dog II9 allows the switch I 41 to return to normal position, thereby causing the arms I40 to be retracted.

It will be seen that the machine herein disclosed is'adapted to straighten and remove a surface layer from a work-piece such as a wire bar rapidly with a minimum of effort and attention on the part of the workmen- The machine is readily adaptable for operation upon workpieces of different sizes or with'varying end tawith the preparation of copper billets for wire.

drawing, it is readily adaptable for removing a surface layer from other types of work-pieces,

such for example as aluminum castings or cakes preparatory to drawing or rolling thereof. We claim as our invention:

I 1. A metal working machine having, in combination, an abutment, means for supporting a billet in front of the abutment, a carriage having a support for the billet, means for moving the carriage to place said support under the billet and to remove said supporting means from effective relation to the billet, means on the car-' riage for forcing the billet against the abutment. means on the carriage to clamp the billet against said support, and means for withdrawing the abutment from contact withthe billet.

2. A metal working machine having, in combination, an abutment, means for supporting a billet in front of the abutment, a carriage having a support for the billet, means for moving the carriage to place said support under the billet and to remove said supporting means from effective relation to the billet, means to force the billet against the abutment to straighten the billet, means on the carriage to force the billet against said support to straighten the billet and clamp it against the support, and means for withdrawing the abutment from contact with the billet.

v3. A metal working machine having, in combination, an abutment, means for supporting a billet in front ofthe abutment, a carriage having a support for the billet, and means for moving the carriage to place said support under the billet and to remove said supporting means from effective relation to the billet.

4. A metal working machine having, in combination, a support for a billet, an abutment adjacent to said support, means for forcing a billet lying upon. said support against said abutment to straighten the billet, means for thereafter forcing the billet against said support to straighten the billet and clamp it against the supportfmeans. for retracting the abutment, and means for'operating upon that surface of the billet which was forced against the abutment.

5. A metalworking machine having,-in combination, a support for a billet, an abutment adjacent to said support, means for forcing a billet lying upo'n said support against said abutment to straighten the billet, means for there'- after forcing the billet against said support to straighten the billet and clamp it against the support, and means for retracting the abutment.

6. A metal working machine having, in combination, a support for a billet, an abutment alongside said support, means for forcing a billet lying upon-said support against said abutment to straighten the billet, and means for forcing the billet down against said support to straighten the billet..

'7. .A metal working machine having, in combination, a support for a billet, an abutment alongside said support, means for moving a billet lying upon said support against said abutment, means for thereafter clamping the billet against the support, means for retracting the abutment, and means for operating upon that surface of the billet which was moved against the abutment.

8. A metal working machine having, in com! bination, a carriage, abutments at opposite'sides of the path of the carriage, a hydraulic cylinder on the carriage, and two rams arranged to be forced in opposite directions by pressure in said cylinder, one 'of'said rams being arranged to bear against one abutment and the other ram being arranged to force a work-piece against the other .abutment.

9. A metal working machine having, in combination, an elongated abutment, a stop upon one end of the abutment, an arm pivoted upon the abutment and spring-held in position to support a work-piece with one end of the work-piece against the stop, and a carriage movable longitudinallly oi the abutment into position beneath the work-piece and arranged to deflect the supporting arm into ineffective relation to the workpiece.

10. A metal working machine having, in combination, an elongated abutment, a stop upon one end of the abutment, an arm spring-held in position to supporta work-piece alongside the abutment with one endof the work-piece against the stop, and a carriage movable longitudinally of the abutment into position beneath the workpiece and arranged to deflect the supporting arm into ineffective relation to the work-piece.

11. A metal working machine having, in combination, an elongated abutment, a stop upon one end of the abutment, means to support -a workpiece alongside the abutment with one end of the work-piece against the stop, and a carriage movable longitudinally of the abutment into position beneath the work-piece and arranged to move the supporting means into ineffective relation to the work-piece.

12. A metal working machine having, in combination, an elongated abutment, a' stop' upon one end of the abutment, means to support a work-piece alongside the abutment with one end 13. A metal working machine in com-'- bination, a cutter, a positioning gage, at one side cutter, a carriage to move a work-piece. ma position adjacent the ga'ge'to the cutter,- mechanism on the carriage for forcing the work-- piec'e the gage and clamping it to the carriage, a for retracting the gage from 1 the workpiece.

14. A machine for machining a wire bar having tape red ends comprising meansior removing one the bar, two cutters for rounding the oppositeedg'es produced in such removal, and means for moving said cutters toward and away from each other to follow the outline of the tapered ends, said means comprising a friction drive and means for positively limiting the separating movement of said cutters, said drive acting in conjunction with said limiting means to aoaasoo 7 opposite edges produced in such removal, and

means for automatically moving said cutters toward and away from each, other to follow the outline of the tapered ends and for holding said cutters at a definite distance apart while said cutters are operating upon the edges between the tapered ends.

16. A machine for machining 'a wire bar having tapered ends comprising means for removing one surface of the bar, two cutters for rounding the opposite edges produced in suchremoval, means for automatically moving said cutters toward and away from each other to follow the outline of the tapered ends, and means for feeding the bar'past said removing means and said cutters in a continuous rectilinear movement, said cutters moving I n I surface ofsaid wire bar may be pressed to locate between, said separating movement ceasing'after said tapered end has passed the cutters, and said cutters approaching each other as the trailing apart as the leading tapered end passes. theretapered end passes between them.

station, a cutter intermediatesaid stations, a carriage reciprocable on said bed from one station to the other and having means,.to clamp-a'workpiece to be. carried past the=cutter and means at the unloading station for removingthe-wcrkpiece from the carriage. I

18. "A metal-working machine havingQin com bination, a reciprocatory-work-eupportlng carriage, an ejector on the carriage for pushing the work-piece oil the carriage, -a hydraulic ram on the carriage for advancing and retracting the ejector, a valve to control the ram, two solenoids to operate the valve, one solenoid being normally.

energized to effect retraction of the" ejector, and means actuated in the travel of the carriage to energize the other soledoind to effect advancement of the ejector.

'19. A machine for removing a surface layer of predetermined depth from a workpiece having,

in combination. a cutter for performing a surface machining operation, a for support-- ing a work-piece, a gage forlocating said worlrand then clamp the positioned work-piece in said" fixture, and means to efiect relative movement between said cutter said fixture longitudinally of said plane.

20. For removing a surface layer of predetermined depth from a work-piece, a miiling.ma-

chine having, in combinatiomacuttr, a work fixture, an abutment movable" toward and away from the cutting plane of said cutter and providing a gaging surface spaced from said plane a distance equal to the thickness of the layer of 7 metal to be removed from said surface, means by which said workpiece may be clamped in said fixture while enga said surface, means by 7 said relative movement.

which said abutment may be retracted to permit operation of said cutter on said work-piece, and means to eilectrelative movement between said fixtures and said cutter longitudinally of said outtingplane.

21. A machine for cutting the slag from the surfaceof awire bar having, in combination, a

v movable work. carriage with an abutment thereon against which one side of said bar may be pressed,

a second abutment against which the slag surface of said bar may be pressed while the bar is in engagementwith said first mentioned abutment, powenactuated meansoperating to apply pressure at'spaced points along saidbar to press the latter against said second abutment, stationary means to sustain the reactionary pressure of said lastmentioned means, and a second power actuated means operating at spaced points along said bar to press the latter against said first abutm'ent.

. -22. A machine for cutting the slag from the -surface of a wire bar having, in combination, a

cutter adapted to perform a surface machining operation, an abutment against which the slag thesame for operative association with said outter, a second abutment positioned for engagement with one side of said bar while the latter is positioned against said first abutment, power ac- 17.,A metal working machine having, in combi- I nation, an elongated bed. means at one endof-the I bed constituting-a loading station. means at the other end of the bed constituting an unloading tuated'm'eans acting at points spaced along said bar to press the. same against said first menstraighten the bar in a transverse direction.

23. A machine for cutting the slagfrom the surface of a wire bar having, in combination, a cutter' adapted to perform asurface machining operation, an abutment against which the slag surface of said wire bar may be pressed tolocate the same for operative tion with said cutter, a fixture for supporting said bar. during operation thereon by saidcutter, a second abutment on said fixture positioned for engagement with one side of said bar whilethe latter is positioned against said first abutment, power actuated means operableto apply pressure along the bar to press the latter against said second abutment and thereby straighten the bar in a transverse direction, and means to effect relative movement between said .cutter and said fixture -'while said bar remains clamped in the latter by said power actuated means.

'24. A machine for cutting the slag from the surface of a wire bar having, in combination, a-

cutter adapted to perform a surface machining operation, an abutment against which the slag surface of saidfwire bar may be pressed to locate the same foroperative association with said outter, a second abutment positioned for engage- .ment. with one side of said bar while the latter is resting against said first abutment, fluid pressure actuated means acting at points spaced along said bar topress the same against said first mentioned abutment and thereby straighten the bar in one direction, andriiuid pressure actuated means op- 25. A machine for scalping the slag surface of a,wire bar having, in combination, two abutments positioned for engagement with said slag surface and one side surface of said bar, independent power actuated means to press said bar against the respective abutments whereby to straighten the bar in two transverse directions, and control means for causing operation of said last menfirst mentioned cutter and shaped to form abevel on said edges, and means operating in timed relation to said feeding movement to feed said cutters away and toward each otherso as to follow the contour of said edges.

27. A machine for removing the slag layer from a wire bar having, in combination, a cutter for performing a surfacing operation, means to locate said bar in cutting relation to said cutter with the slag surface thereof spaced from the plane of the cutter a distance equal to the depth of the metal layer to be removed, means for efiecting relative movement between said cutter and said bar in a direction longitudinally of the latter, two cutters positioned to engage opposite side edges of said bar after operation thereon by said first mentioned cutter and operating to bevel the side edges of the machined surface of the bar, and means operating in timed relation to the relative movements between said cutter and said bar to move said second cutters apart progressively during engagement thereof with one tapered end of said bar and toward each other progressively during engagement with the other tapered end while maintaining a fixed spacing of said cutters during engagement thereof with the intermediate portions of. said bar.

28. In a metal working machine, in combination, a, gaging abutment, means for pressing a bar or the like against the abutment to straighten thebar against the abutment, means to withdraw the abutment, and means to remove the straightened surface that was in contact with the abutment.

29. The method of straightening and scalping a bar or the like which consists in straightening the bar in one direction by pressing it against a gaging abutment; then, while the bar is still under pressure, straightening the bar in a direction] transverse to the first direction by pressing it against another abutment; and then, while maintaining the last-mentioned straightening pressure, withdrawing the first-mentioned straightening pressure and the gaging abutment and scalping the straightened surface that was in contact with g the gaging abutment.

30. A machine for scalping a billet comprising means for-distorting the billet to straighten one longitudinal surface thereof, means operating on the billet in adiifrent direction from said first mentioned means to hold the billet in distorted condition, and cutting means to perform a metal removing operation on said surface while the latter is retained in straightened condition.

31. A machine for operating upon a-workpiece. having a face to be machined having in combination, means engaging said face and an opposed portion of the workpiece for applying pressure thereto sufficient to flex the piece and bring the face into condition to be machined, means operating upon a different portion of the piece to clamp the same in such flexed condition, said first mentioned means being releasable to relieve said pressure and expose said face for machining, and 6 cutting means for machining said face while the piece is so clamped.

32. A machine for operating upon a deformable metallic work piece having in combination, two abutments arranged to engage angularly related 10 faces of said work piece, means for pressing said a piece against one of said abutments with sumcient pressure to cause the abutment engaging surface of said piece to conform to the contour defined by said abutment, means for pressing the work piece 16 surface, and cutting means for machining such exposed surface while it is maintained in said conforming condition.

33. A machine for scalping a metal bar, having, in combination, means for exerting pressure on 25 opposite sides of the bar to flex the same into a condition to be operated upon, means for applying pressure in a transverse direction to opposite sides of the bar to clamp the bar and maintain it in flexed condition, said first mentioned means so being releasable to expose one face of the bar, and cutting means operable while the bar is clamped in said second means to remove a layer of metal from said face.

34. A machine for scalping a deformable bar of 35 metal having, in combination, an abutment having a face disposed in a predetermined plane, means to press said bar against said face with suflicient pressure to straighten the abutment engaging surface, means to clamp the bar in straightened condition, cutting means having an effective cutting face disposed in a plane intersecting the clamped bar and extending parallel to said first mentioned plane a distance therefrom predetermined by the thickness of the layer to be scalped from said surface, and means operating while the bar is so clamped to bring the bar and cutting means into cutting engagement with each other.

35. A machine for scalping a metal billet having a face with tapered ends comprising, in combination, means for clamping the billet in flexed or distorted condition to present said face in a predetermined plane, a tool for scalping a layer of metal from said face, a pair of tools for beveling the edges of said face, means for causing relative movement between the billet and all of said tools in one direction, and means for causing rela-'. tive movement between the billet and the beveling tools to causethe latter to follow the contour to of said tapered ends.

36. A machine for scalping billets having, in combination, loading and unloading stations, a carriage movable back and forth to carry a billet from the loading station to the unloading sta- 65 tion, power actuated means on said carriage to clamp a billet thereon, cutting means operable to perform a metal removing operation on the billet during movement of said carriage from said loading station to the unloading station, means op- 7 crating automatically after operation of said cutting means to release said clamping means, and poweractuated means operating automatically to move the unclamped billet off from said carriage at said unloading station.'

3'7. The method of machining one face of a metallic work piece which comprises flexing said work piece by pressure in a direction substantially normal to said face, holding the work piece in such fiexed condition, and machining said face while the work piece is so held.

38. The method of machining a piece of metal which comprises flexing the piece by pressure into" a predetermined position to be machined, clamping the piece in such position, then releasing the flexing pressure, and finally machining the piece while so clamped. 1

39. The method of scalping a bar of metal which comprises distorting the bar to straighten one longitudinal surface thereof, holding the bar in distorted condition, and performing a metal removing operation on said surface while the latter is retained in straightened condition.

40. The method of operating upon a deformable metallic work piece which comprises pressing said piece against an abutment with sumcient pressure to cause the abutment engaging surface of said piece to conform to the contour defined by said abutment, then pressing the work place against another abutment in a direction angularly related to the direction of the first mentioned pressure and with sufiicient pressure to retain said surface of the work piece in such conforming condition, then separating said work piece and first abutment from each other to expose said surface, and finally machining such exso clamped.

42. The method of machining a piece of metal which comprises clamping the piece in flexed or distorted condition to present a face of the piece in a plane to be machined, removing a layer of metal from said face and also contouring the edges of said face; while the piece is retained insaid condition.

43. The method of scalplng a metal billet having a face with tapered ends which comprises clamping the billet in flexed or distorted condition to present said face in a plane to be machined, removing a layer of metal from said face and bevellng the edges of said face along its sides and tapered ends, such removing and beveling being performedwhile the piece is retained in such flexed or distorted condition MARION L. STRAWN. RENE LOUIS ROUGEMONT. 

